“You owe it to your organization to experience a Fujifilm Technology Summit” 

Hanover Park, Ill. – FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division recently hosted a Prime Label Technology Summit at its Chicago Technology Center, showcasing innovative packaging technology trends to invited attendees.

Highly successful solutions were the focus at the two-day event, allowing experienced industry professionals hands-on demonstrations of the Graphium, a UV inkjet press for labels, packaging, and specialty print; along with learning more about the Flenex series, a new, innovative flexographic plate system. 

Attendees were able to get up close to the Graphium, a high-speed modular digital UV inkjet press with the option to integrate flexo and finishing stations for hybrid production and conversion in a single pass – greatly expanding the opportunities that can be converted.

Graphium represents the next generation of UV inkjet press for labels, packaging and specialty print that enables profitable printing of short run jobs while boosting productivity and providing the ability to produce new print options previously unavailable through traditional flexo technologies. Graphium makes converting short to medium print jobs more profitable, as the press streamlines workflow, requires less setup material, reduces waste and eliminates overruns.   

“Unlike trade shows, the Technology Summit gave us the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate Fujifilm processes, supplies and equipment directly with their tech support and product managers,” said Jim Kiske, owner of Mulligan Printing, a St. Louis, Missouri-based print provider established since 1865.

“Seeing and touching the technology while listening to the experts, in addition to the classroom presentations, exceeded my expectations,” added Kiske. “I truly appreciated the relaxed learning atmosphere with no high-pressure sales tactics.”

The FLENEX FW water-washable plate system also drew attention, and is able to form flat-top dots, and reproduce 200lpi with halftone dots from one percent to 99 percent. Additional advantages include very good ink transfer, superior compatibility with UV, water-based, and solvent inks; wear resistance and the ability to consistently maintain good product quality even when printing long-run jobs. Compared to solvent processing, drying time is greatly reduced, productivity is increased, and there is a reduced impact on the environment. The innovative water wash system eliminates the need for solvents, wicking cloths, and thermal equipment. 

“The water-wash plate material is amazing,” said Johnny Melton, Pre Press manager, Jet Printing, White Bluff, Tenn. “I am absolutely amazed at Fujifilm’s commitment to the industry; Fujifilm has the best infrastructure in the country.”

Attendees were also able to see a wide array of additional value-added solutions while collaborating with industry leaders CGS-Oris, which discussed Flex Pack label production; Esko showcased extended color gamut printing capabilities; and representatives from TLMI, the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute, spoke about industry highlights. Bob Leahey, associate director, InfoTrends, shared his thoughts about what’s trending now in the market. 

In addition to learning more about packaging technology, attendees were fortunate to see many other innovations, including the Acuity Series; the J Press line-up; the  Inca Onset and Xerox presses housed within Fujifilm’s over 20,000 square foot facility.

“You owe it to your organization to experience a Fujifilm Technology Summit,” concluded Kiske.